Mike,

All I can say is WOW!.

Yes, we have the gene over here too. There are MB people and BMW people. I think the guys at the car magazines are mostly BMW types as they routinely put MB's down because they think MB's are too cold, without endearing flaws and mostly, expensive.

We will be getting the E320CDI this Fall. I look forward to testing it out as I have driven the E500 and expect the E320CDI will come pretty close. I cannot imagine the E320 gas (or E350 now?) maintaining its sales share here, but you never know. The E300D TurboDiesel I drive is pretty close to the E320 gas car, yet gets 30 mpg in real life and became extinct in two model years.

Thanks for sharing your experience with these machines. Makes us even more eager to get our hands on one here. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)